Empowering Women Farmers

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, with support from over 100 countries. This global recognition comes amid growing attention to the challenges women face in agriculture, including land rights, market access, and climate vulnerability. Insights from India’s ENACT project in Assam and a six-month multi-stakeholder symposium reveal policy and grassroots solutions.

Empowering Women Farmers: Towards Climate-Resilient and Equitable Agriculture

• Women in Agriculture – Role, Gaps, and Inequality
  • Critical Contribution to Food Production: Women contribute 60–80% of food production in developing nations and make up 39% of South Asia’s agricultural workforce, yet they remain under-recognised and unsupported.
  • Ownership Inequities and Limited Access: In India, although 80% of economically active women work in agriculture, only 14% of landowners are women (NFHS puts this even lower at 3%), limiting their access to credit and resources.
  • Structural Gaps in Financial and Technological Access: Women face barriers in accessing credit, mobile-based advisory services, and technological tools—hampering productivity and long-term investment in agriculture.
• Government Interventions and Climate-Resilience Initiatives
  • Targeted Schemes for Support: Schemes such as the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana, Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation, and the National Food Security Mission provide 50–80% subsidies and reserve 30% of funds for women farmers.
  • ENACT Project in Assam: Implemented by WFP and Government of Assam, ENACT equips women with climate-resilient technologies, weekly advisories, and links to expert guidance through Climate Adaptation Information Centres in 17 villages.
  • Technology-Driven Community Solutions: The project promotes flood-resistant rice, smart seed systems, and diversified farm-based livelihoods with help from meteorology departments, agricultural universities, and rural missions.
• Forward Path – Policy, Data, and Institutional Support
  • Gender-Specific Policy Frameworks Needed: Granular, gender-disaggregated data must inform policy tools ranging from farming equipment design to credit systems suited to women’s needs.
  • Strengthening Women’s Agri-Value Chains: Boosting women-managed agri-value chains and enabling access to finance, markets, and networks such as SHGs can drive sustainable development.
  • Leveraging 2026 for Global Momentum: The International Year of the Woman Farmer (2026) provides a unique platform to institutionalise gender equity and build resilient, inclusive food systems.

Practice Question:

Q. “Recognising the vital role of women in agriculture, evaluate the key challenges they face in terms of ownership, access, and climate vulnerability. Suggest policy measures for ensuring inclusive and sustainable development of women farmers.”